A Chat with Our Characters by Sherry Ewing and Jude Knight

This is Peter Pritchard of Regency Morning Gazette, and I am reporting today from the Crock and Bull Inn, a mysterious accommodation house that has appeared in a number of counties simultaneously, and that is currently providing lodging to a vast cast of characters written by the eight Bluestocking Belles and their guests.

Part 1 of my report will be on Sherry Ewing’s blog, and part 2 on Jude Knight’s.

I am with Amiria of clan MacLaren and wife to Lord Dristan, first Earl of Berwyck, and Anne, Countess of Chirbury, wife to Stephen Redepenning, eighth Earl of Chirbury. Lord Dristan is also known as the Devil’s Dragon, and Lord Chirbury as The Wild Trapper Earl.

The two noble ladies normally inhabit different fictional worlds and different eras. Lady Amiria is normally found in the twelfth century and between the pages of If My Heart Could See You by Sherry Ewing. Lady Anne is from the early nineteenth century, and Farewell to Kindness (to be published 1 April) by Jude Knight.

Thanks to a magical time-spanning ever-expanding coaching inn, and a shared adventure in the nearby woods, the two ladies have found much in common and have become friends.

PART 1

Thank you, Amiria and Anne, for sparing the time to talk to me today, busy as you are with the wedding that the Bluestocking Belles are hosting today and the ball this Saturday, March 14th.

Amiria: ’Tis a pleasure to be here. Thank you for having me.

Anne: Good morning to you, and to your readers. I am happy to be here.

Lady Amiria, it must have come as quite a shock to travel across time. Were you surprised?

One does not normally plan on such an occurrence when walking with one’s husband in the woods near one’s own home. Apparently, there are places where one must needs watch one’s step.

Then you’ve done a bit of time traveling before?

(Amiria gives a merry laugh) Oh my goodness no, but Dristan and I do know of another such lady who has crossed such a barrier to find love in the twelfth century.

You must mean Katherine, Riorden de Deveruax’s wife and your husband’s prior captain of the guard. Has she joined you in the Regency era as well?

Aye, Katherine has become a good friend, although I have not seen her here at the coaching inn. Riorden, however, seems to have fallen through time to join us in this crazy journey, along with my younger brother Patrick. He is Riorden’s squire. They seem to be adjusting well to their mishap, but I shall not say another word about any more time traveling. To do so, would give away certain spoilers to future adventures with the knights of Berwyck.

Lady Anne, you had a less startling trip to the inn, but you have noticed some peculiarities about it.

For one thing, Peter, it is able to spawn any rooms that the guests need, which you must admit is very strange. For another, it seems to span many times. Lady Amiria and her husband, and their friend Riordan, are not the only ones here from medieval times. Most guests, however, come from my own century – but from many different times in the reign of our beloved monarch, George III, and even (if I correctly understand some of the hints I’ve heard) the reign of his successor, who is currently the Prince of Wales.

This must lead to some interesting discussions.

Not really. We seem to be unable to talk about anything that has happened between our own time and the times of the people we are talking to. For example, my cousin-in-law, Mrs Julius Redepenning came to the inn with us out of the year 1810, but her husband thinks it is still 1806, and prior to their marriage. It is both sad and amusing. He is a naval officer, you know, and on duty in the Far East. He left Mia on the day of their wedding, and they haven’t met since. But here in the inn, he is pursuing her without any idea of who she is.

But you don’t have the same difficulty talking with Lady Amiria.

No. The restriction only applies for those who know one another in their lives outside of the inn.

Ladies, tell us a little about your time here at The Crock and Bull Inn.

Amiria: Well, I am not sure where to begin, as there have been so many people showing up at this magical inn that it has been hard to keep up with all of them. Rooms have been appearing and musical instruments for the ladies to play upon. I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed such entertainment. ‘Tis far superior than any bard who has come to perform in my hall.

Dristan has been enjoying the brandy of this time period, and I must admit that I, too, tasted a most pleasant ale. He has been wise to stay away from a man called Aldridge who seems to have a never-ending supply of the stuff. Dristan has threatened to take a bottle back with us, although Riorden suggested he leave it behind so as to not mess with the fabric of time, as Lady Katherine would attest. He would do well to heed Riorden’s advice; otherwise he and I will have speech that will not be to his liking.

Anne: My husband Rede has been greatly enjoying the time spent with his cousins. Lieutenant Julius Redepenning, as I said, is from our past. Major Harry Redepenning has come to the inn from a time in our future, and seems to have had some very unpleasant experiences in recent years. His behaviour at the inn has been less than exemplary, but Rede says it has been good for him to be able to relax.

The Marquis of Aldridge is also a cousin of Rede’s; the son of Rede’s aunt, the Duchess of Haverford. I would say that he is the despair of Aunt Eleanor’s heart, except that his brother Jonathan is just as bad, and their father, His Grace the Duke, is ten times as bad. Oh, please do not print that. I would not wish to distress Aunt Eleanor for the world.

To see Part Two of Lady Amiria and Lady Anne’s interview, please go to the blog of Bluestocking Belle Jude Knight at this link: http://wp.me/p58yDd-i1